An Update From Robert & Liz Crews

Here is the latest from Robert & Liz Crews as the prepare to move to Arizona!

http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2012/08/vacation.html

Helping?

A great post from Robert Crews.  Robert and Liz Crews are in the process of fundraising to join the staff of 3:18 Ministries full-time.  What do you think about his blog?

http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2012/08/helping.html

Setting Your Chapel Speaker Lineup For Church Camp

I am a church camp junkie.  Over my 20 plus years working at church camps I have learned a lot about setting your chapel speaker lineup.  Here are some words of wisdom to set your lineup!

Sunday Night – This is your leadoff hitter.  He will set the tone for the whole inning.  If he strikes out it will affect the entire week.  He must get on base or you risk the chance of having the campers dreading coming to chapel time.  If at all possible make sure he uses at least one video clip and tells several stories.  Prayer over this speaker, “As Ecclesiastes 6:11 says, ‘The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?’  We ask You to use (insert speaker’s name here), his few words, and his several funny stories to reach these campers.  Amen.”

Monday Night – This is your #9 hitter.  He is usually on the team for his defensive ability.  He has a great attitude and is willing to do his part on the team.  Sometimes the coach will tell the #9 hitter to crowd the plate to possibly get hit by the pitch.  This is a great spot to allow your missionary another opportunity to speak or if you are feeling very liberal, maybe your dorm mom could even share her “testimony!”  Hopefully your Monday night speaker will crowd the plate and maybe get hit by the Holy Spirit.  Prayer over this speaker, “Lord, we know You used Balaam’s as…donkey to speak so we ask You to somehow use (insert speaker’s name here) tonight.  Amen.”

Tuesday Night – This is your #2 hitter.  Find a hitter who handles the bat well for the second spot. Make sure he can bunt effectively, take a pitch when a base runner is trying to steal and make contact during a hit-and-run play.  For camp you need to find someone who handles the Scriptures well.  He needs to advance the theme of the week and begin to challenge the campers towards a decision.  Prayer over this speaker, “Lord, tonight we present to You (insert speaker’s name here).  He is a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  Use him.  Amen.”

Wednesday Night – This is your #3 hitter.  The #3 hitter in baseball is usually the most consistent hitter on the team.  His job is to get on base so the cleanup hitter can smack him home.  At church camp this is your set up guy.  His job is to start moving the campers towards a decision.  Sometimes if you pick a really good speaker, he might even get a few decisions himself!  Prayer over this speaker, “As John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, please use (insert speaker’s name here) to prepare the way for many decisions in Your name.  Amen.”

Thursday Night – This is your cleanup hitter.  The fate of the whole game rests in his hands.  He is one of your better hitters, but most importantly, he’s a prolific run producer.  For church camp, this is your most dynamic speaker and a prolific decision producer.  If he can’t get the girls crying and the boys sniffing, he has failed miserably.  The ultimate fate of your week of camp in the history books comes down to this speaker.  Prayer over this speaker, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I pray these words over (insert speaker’s name here): Preach the word; be prepared tonight; correct, rebuke and encourage, but mainly correct and do a bunch of rebuking.  In the almighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ whom these campers really need to accept tonight, amen.”

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I hope you smiled as you read this random post.  This was not a serious piece!  This was inspired by a dean of a High School week who asked me to speak...on a Monday night!

tory

Packets, Packing and Proms

Life goes by way too fast, have you ever noticed? Wasn’t it just yesterday that my baby girl was decked out in her pooh bear garb, running through the sprinklers in our backyard? Or was it yesterday she went to her Senior Prom? In between stuffing packets and preparing mailings, packing boxes and handiwork we are taking a deep breath. Our lives are chaotic and surprising and emotionally charged. We’re experiencing lots of firsts, both good and not so good. Here is a small update of where we are, where we are going and how we are getting there.

                                             

The next two weeks are filled, literally!  Our youngest, Shelby is graduating from High School! We have choir shows, awards nights, senior banquets, graduation, parties and Father’s day. So, if that is not exhausting enough, the following week Robert will be leading a group on a Mission Trip to Brisbane, Australia for 2 weeks.  During all of this we of course have our full time jobs, trying to get our house in working order, packing up a few boxes here and there, etc.

When Robert returns from his trip, we plan on hitting the ground running. This means we are in the stage of gathering supporters and finalizing a moving date. We have come up with a rough budget and what we will need to live on. We will be sending out packets with information on how to support us and what that looks like. We will be planning visits to churches, Bible studies, individuals, anyone who will have us. Let us know if you would like to get together. The time is near.

Our biggest request at this point is prayer. Would you take a moment and pray for us? Our family has been through some extraordinarily difficult things.  Though we know why, it has been a growing experience for us all. The closer we get, the more challenging it becomes. But we are not deterred, because we know where we are supposed to be. In God’s will, wherever He will have us. Please take a moment and pray for our friends on the field now, Tory and Kara Satter and their family. Also, please lift up the San Carlos Apache people who daily struggle to see hope and light in the darkness.

We are so grateful for your partnership in this journey! "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers" Philemon 1:4

Robert and Liz

For more information about Robert & Liz Crews and their journey to join 3:18 Ministries full-time, check out: http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/

Coffe, Coffee, Coffee

Take a minute and read the latest from Robert Crews.  Robert & Liz Crews will be moving to Globe this fall to join 3:18 Ministries full-time!

http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2012/05/coffe-coffee-coffee.html

Hope In The Midst Of Hopelessness

A couple of years ago my mom had a conversation with one of our relatives.  They were talking about the ministry to which God has called Kara and me.  They were talking about the San Carlos Apache Nation and the hopelessness which fills it.  My relative asked how we can keep going without being totally discouraged.

To be totally honest, there are days when the hopelessness we face overwhelms us.  There are days when we are heartbroken as we see another soul take five steps back after taking two steps forward.  When we see a two year old child barefoot, unattended, and playing on the sidewalk with a forty ounce glass beer bottle, it leaves us speechless.  When youth we have poured our lives into choose to try and self-medicate with alcohol and marijuana, we hurt deeply.  When another marriage dissolves, our heart breaks.  When another teenager's life ends way too soon, we cry from the depth of our souls.  There are days we shake our fists in the air and ask, “How long, O Lord?”

I found myself face down on my bed, pouring out my soul to God and pleading for the souls of my Apache brothers and sisters.  In total despair I asked God, “Can I make a difference?”  I was not looking for an answer, but no sooner had I finished my question I heard a still, small voice.  God spoke directly to my heart and said, “No, but I can.”

How arrogant and foolish of me to think this ministry was somehow about me.  I was reminded of the story of David.  I love what he said in his confrontation with Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:47.  “For the battle is the Lord’s.”  If the battle was up to David, he would have lost.  Goliath was too big and too strong for a little shepherd boy, poorly equipped, fighting on his own.

This battle is too big and too strong for us to fight on our own.  However, with God’s help, we will keep going.  God has called us to be available, to be faithful, and to stand firm.  The work is His!

tory

Update from Robert & Liz Crews

Here's the latest from Robert & Liz Crews, future teammates at 3:18 Ministries.  Please take a minute to read about their journey and pray for them!

http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2012/04/whats-next-truth-isi-dont-know.html